Political commentary from the LA Times

Weekly remarks by Sen. Scott Brown, as provided by Republican Party leadership

Hello, I’m Scott Brown, and I have the honor of representing Massachusetts in the United States Senate.

Last Sunday night, we heard President Obama deliver the message that Americans have been waiting for since September 11, 2001. It’s a very rare thing when so many people across the world observe the loss of life with something other than regret. But this man, the late Osama bin Laden, had chosen his fate long before in a life filled with cruelty. If he expected mercy when our forces found him, that was asking much more than he was ever known to give.

This was a man who rejoiced in the suffering and death of others, who set in motion all the horror and grief of 9/11 and considered it just a start. He was a teacher of evil, and now, for him, the lesson is over. It ends not in the fulfillment of some fanatical vision, but in the depths of the Arabian Sea.

None of this can compensate for the murder of bin Laden’s victims. Nor will it....

...ease the sorrow of those who still mourn. But it sure counts for something, and it’s always a victory when Justice has the final word.

Bin Laden’s killing was the result of coordinated efforts going back many years. It was the dramatic conclusion of patient intelligence-gathering begun long before, and the work of a military that is second to none. The operation was a model of sustained, concentrated military action, and the example will not be lost on other terrorists.

Any escape they make will be temporary. Any sanctuary they find will be uncovered. Those who harm or threaten the American people will be dealt with, on our terms, however long it takes.

This was the pledge of President George W. Bush in the days after 9/11, and he kept it in seven years of relentless, decisive action against the Al Qaeda network.

In the case of bin Laden, it fell to President Obama to give the final order. He did so calmly, swiftly and decisively. It was a fine moment for our commander in chief and for our country.

Above all, this past week has reminded us of the skill and special courage of those who choose to take on the toughest missions in service to America. Our combat forces are the ones we call when the need is the greatest. They give their all, and seek no special praise for what they do. They’re the best we have, and what great news it was on Sunday night that the mission to kill Bin Laden succeeded, and every man came back safely.

The men and women of the armed services have sacrificed so much already in the war on terror. And as much as we all wish it could be ended as suddenly and as permanently as the career of bin Laden, the war goes on, and it still demands our attention and our commitment to victory.

The troop surge of last year has made a difference in Afghanistan, and we can’t surrender those gains to what’s left of the Taliban. Early in the conflict, America and our allies devastated the Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan. Yet Al Qaeda is still at work, and that is why we need to prepare the Afghan security forces to protect their own people. We must ensure that Afghanistan does not once again become a sanctuary for terrorists.

After so many years, there’s a temptation to despair of ever gaining a final victory against our enemies. But if we’ve learned anything this past week, it’s that our patient commitment to even the hardest objectives will be rewarded.

We all heard it said that Bin Laden was beyond our reach, in some remote corner of the Earth, and after almost a decade we could surely never find him. Let me tell you it’s always a mistake to bet against American resourcefulness and determination. These qualities led us to the man who started this war.

They will lead us to victory in that war. And as always, the credit will belong to the skill and raw courage of the armed forces of the United States of America. May God bless them all, and may He always watch over the country they serve.

This is Senator Scott Brown. Thank you for listening. ####

Weekly remarks by President Obama, as provided by the White House

Hi. I’m speaking with you today from the Allison Transmissions plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. I came here because this is a place where American workers are doing some big and impressive things.

The hybrid technology they manufacture here already powers nearly 4,000 buses all over the world -- buses that have already saved 15 million gallons of fuel. Soon, they’ll expand this new technology to trucks as well. That means more vehicles using less oil, and that means jobs -- more than 200 new workers at this plant alone.

That’s important because even as the economy is growing after one of the worst recessions in our history, even as we’ve added more than 2 million new private sector jobs over the past 14 months, I still meet and hear from Americans struggling to get out of their own personal recessions.

A lot of folks are still looking for work. And many folks who do have jobs are finding that their paychecks aren’t keeping up with the rising costs for everything from tuition to groceries to gas. In fact, in a lot of places across the country, like Indiana, gas is reaching all-time highs.

So although our economy hasn’t been the focus of the news this week, not a day that goes by that I’m not focused on your jobs, your hopes and your dreams. And that’s why I came here to Allison Transmissions.

The clean energy jobs at this plant are the jobs of the future -- jobs that pay well right here in America. And in the years ahead, it’s clean energy companies like this one that will keep our economy growing, create new jobs, and make sure America remains the most prosperous nation in the world.

Allison Transmissions is also part of the ultimate solution to high gas prices. We know there are no quick fixes to this problem. In the short term, we’re doing everything we can to boost safe and responsible oil production here at home -- in fact, last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003.

But over the long term, the only way we can avoid being held hostage to the ups and downs of oil prices is if we reduce our dependence on oil. That means investing in clean, alternative sources of energy, like advanced biofuels and natural gas. And that means making cars and trucks and buses that use less oil. Other countries know this, and they’re going all in to invest in clean energy technologies and clean energy jobs. But I don’t want other countries to win the competition for these technologies and these jobs. I want America to win that competition. I want America to win the future.

Now, I know that in a difficult fiscal climate like the one we’re in, it’s tempting for some to try and cut back our investments in clean energy. And I absolutely agree that the only way we’ll be able to afford the things we need is by cutting the things we don’t and living within our means. But I refuse to cut investments like clean energy that will help us out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. I refuse to cut investments that are making it possible for plants like this one to grow and add jobs across America.

We can do this. I don’t just believe that because I see it happening in plants like this. I believe that because I believe in the Americans making it happen in places like this. I’m optimistic about our economic future, because for all the challenges we face, America is still home to the most entrepreneurial, most industrious, most determined people on Earth. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish when we set our minds to it. And that’s what we’ll keep doing as long as I have the privilege of being your president. Thanks, and have a great weekend. ####